Wilson thrilled with Spireites players in win over Bolton

Graham Smyth

Danny Wilson was thrilled with all 11 of his players who started and finished today’s 1-0 win over high flying Bolton.

Chesterfield scored in the first half through Liam O’Neil and defended stoutly for the remainder, Lloyd Allinson without a save to make in the second half as Wanderers shot high and wide when they did get a chance.

Wilson felt his side coped well with Bolton’s obvious threats and ability.

He said: “I think everyone saw it, everyone knew how important it was to put a performance in like that against a very, very dangerous team.

“That’s why Bolton will be challenging come the end of the season, they’re strong, they’re committed, they’ve got quality around some of the bigger, more physical players.

“I thought we dealt with it fantastically well. Not only that we played some good stuff ourselves.

“The goal we scored was fantastic from a movement point of view, great timing, great ball and he finished with aplomb.

“We didn’t sit back, we didn’t want to drain ourselves of energy just sitting in the box, we tried to get out and I thought we posed a threat all the way through.”

Wilson didn’t use any of his substitutes in the game, backing the players who started to finish the job.

Players like Jay O’Shea caught the eye with lung bursting runs out of defence to take the pressure off, but Wilson was in no mood to highlight individuals.

“We knew the lads knew their jobs, we didn’t want to unsettle it completely with substitutions,” he said.

“It would be difficult to separate anyone today who didn’t play well in their own right.

“They’ve all done their jobs really well, they knew they had to take opportunities and they did.

“They all defended really well as a team.

“Jay did really well, but you could say that about everyone else as well.”

There was one moment of individual influence that had a big impact on the game, however, a vital save from Allinson when the in-form Zach Clough went clean through on goal.

Wilson lauded the keeper’s calmness at that very moment, the highlight of his home league debut at the Proact.

“That’s great goalkeeping, he didn’t commit himself too early or go to ground early, he made the player make a decision and reacted brilliantly to it. That was terrific,” said Wilson.

“Throughout the game he did very well, he was calm, he came for balls, his hands were clean, nothing came off him, I thought he had a very good game today.

“Ryan (Fulton) has got a bit of a knock but nothing too serious.

“Lloyd has been knocking on the door, that’s the third clean sheet he’s had in three games.

“It’s important you can give someone that opportunity when they’re doing so well.”

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect for Wilson, other than the three points and clean sheet, was the dedication with which the Spireites stuck to their task.

The manager said: “Overall you’ve got to look at the way we defended as a team and went forward as a team, typified right at the end with Ched chasing the centre-backs - it gives everyone a lift.

“That’s the attitude we have to have, playing against a team with the quality we’ve played against you’ve got to have it throughout the game.

“You can’t just have little pockets of the game doing that, it has to be 95 minutes.”